Vending machine



A. R. GROSS VENDING MACHINE Nov. 24, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 30, 1948 Nov. 24, 1953 GROSS 2,660,282

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 30, 1948 I 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 24, 1953 A. R. GROSS 8 VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 50, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 24, 1953 A. R. GROSS I 2,660,282

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 50, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 24, 1953 A. R. GROSS 2,660,282

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 50, 1948 1O Sheets-Sheet 6 fave/2X02" Anzm A? 69 0M? Nov. 24, 1953 A. R. GROSS VENDING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Dec. 30, 1948 Nov. 24, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed Dec. 50, 1948 fwmr Nov. 24, 1953 A. R. GROSS vzwumc MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed Dec.

A M m s w w J z Y r W 4 0 7 u F W w :5:.liiiiiii 6 2 Z W J l I w lfl rdhnnnnnnnufiflnnnnnufinnk Hull U 1/ 2 M ww a, M Z 5 V0 4 2 82 A, a 2 mm w. a l /I m 1 A. R. GROSS VENDING MACHINE Nov. 24, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Original Filed Dec. so. 1948 Patented ov. 24, 1953 ATENT OFFICE Divided and this application November 10, 1949, Serial No. 126,520

1 Claim. 1

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 68,331., filed December 30, was, under title Dispensing Machine, and relates, particularly to improvements in coin-controlled vending machines.

An important objective of the instant invention is the provision, in a machine of the class described, of means for automatically returning to the operator his coin or coins upon completion of delivery function of the machine in case of delivery failure, and this as distinguished from the general prior art practice whereby delivery failure merely conditions the machine for return of the coins to the operator dependent upon some manual manipulation by the operator.

The above and other highly important objects and advantages of the invention will be made further apparent from the following specification, claims and appended drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in front elevation, with some parts broken away and some parts shown in section, of a machine embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation, with some parts broken away, some parts shown in section, and some parts omitted, oi the machine shown in Fig. 1, looking from the right toward the left with respect to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation, with some parts broken away and some parts omitted, of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. l is an enlarged sectional view, with some parts broken away, taken on the vertical line tl of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary detail view, taken substantially on the vertical line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-45 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a similarly enlarged detail sectional view taken on the horizontal line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a similarly enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on the horizontal line 8-8 of Fig. 7;.

Fig. 9 is a similarly enlarged detail view taken approximately on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7, with some parts on the section line shown in elevation;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail in vertical section, taken substantially on the line I 9lil of Fig. 2;

, Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view corresponding to part of Fig. 2, but showing certain of the parts in opposite extreme positions from those of Fig. Fig. 12 is a greatly enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line l2--i2 of Fig, 2;

Fig. 13 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation, as seen from the line l3l3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail sectional viewv taken substantially on the line !i-l t of Fig. 3;

Fig. 15 is a similarly enlarged detail sectional.

view taken approximately on the line l5--l5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail view taken on the section line it-ifi of Fig. 14, but with some parts broken away and some parts on the section line, shown in full;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding to Fig. 4, but showing a. modified form of the invention;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary detail view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 17, but showing a different position of some of the parts;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary detail view taken approximately on the irregular line iS-lil of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a detail sectional view taken on the horizontal line 20-29 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 2 i-2I of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical hook-pp of the mechanisms of the foregoing figures;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the use of a different form of selector switches, which can be used as a substitute for those shown in Fig. 22 in connection with certain of the previously described figures and Fig. 24 is a detail sectional view taken on the horizontal line 2624 of Fig. 1.

Description, Figs. 1 to 16, inclusive and Figs, 22 and 24 In these figures, the exterior casing or shell of the machine is indicated as an entirety by I, and is provided in its lower front portion with an elongated horizontally extending discharge or. delivery opening 2, leading downwardly and forwardly to which is a delivery chute 3, which is positioned to receive merchandise articles or. units, such as packages of cigarettes X, from each of several laterally spaced, generally parallel magazines ii. The magazines t are generally of the type common to cigarette package dispensing magazines, and each comprises a rear Wall 5, side walls 6, and a front wall-forming flange 1 formed integrally and turned inwardly from one of the walls 6, but spaced from the opposite wall of that magazine to afford an elongated inspection opening in the front of each magazine. The magazines 4 are open at their tops for loading and are customarily loaded each with a single row stack of cigarette packages of different brand. The several magazines 4 are partially closed at their bottoms by supporting flanges 8 extending from the bottoms of the side walls 6 and serving as supports for the stacks of cigarette packages therein. The front wall-forming flanges I of the magazines downwardly terminate at 9 sufficiently above the bottom-forming flanges 8 to provide a discharge passage 9' in the bottom front portion of each magazine for singular dispensing of cigarette packages onto the discharge chute 3. Although the shell I has not been shown in detail, it may be assumed that the entire internal mechanism of the machine, including the magazines 4, is removable for filling of the machine and servicing and repairing of the mechanism. Also, it will be noted that, in accordance with conventional practice, the outer casing or shell I is provided with a transparent front wall it giving a clear view of the merchandise contained within the several magazines 5.

The rear walls 5 of the several magazines are formed by a common rear wall-forming plate so that the several magazines comprise a single magazine unit. This magazine unit is mounted on and supported by a base structure comprising side plates H and legs i2. The side plates H may be assumed to be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the bottom of the magazine unit, and the legs l2 may be assumed to be similarly anchored fast to the side plates H. The legs I2 of the supporting base rest upon a shelf H of the shell I and may be assumed to be slidable thereon for removal of the mechanism when the case is open.

The dispensing mechanism illustrated in the figures being described comprises a forwardly and rearwardly reciprocatory ejector carriage it located below the planes of the bottoms of the several magazines l and mounted and guided for forward and rearward reciprocating motion by means of integrally formed, laterally projecting guide flanges l5 slidably mounted in suitable guide channels [6 formed in the base side plates I i (see particularly Figs. 1, 3 and 4). As will be seen by reference particularly to Fig. 4, the ejector carriage it is movable from a normal retracted position, shown by full lines in said Fig. 4, to an advanced position, shown by dotted lines in said Fig. 4. The ejector carriage it functions in common with the several magazines and carries a plurality of electromagnetic ejectors I? of which there is one for each magazine 4, the ejector H for each magazine being located slightly rearwardly of the plane of the rear Wall of that magazine in a normal retracted position of the ejector carriage [4, as shown by full lines in Fig. 4. Each of the said ejectors ll comprises a solenoid coil or winding [8 and a magnetically responsive reciprocatory armature It working therein and provided at its lower end with a disclike non-magnetic head 29, which is preferably of non-magnetic material, such as aluminum. The upper end portion of each armature i9 is reduced in diameter and equipped with an ex.- tension-acting ejector pin 2! of non-magnetic material. such as aluminum. The pins 2 are preferably press-fit on the reduced diameter portions 22 of the armatures I9 so as to become a permanent part thereof and define the upper wall of an annular groove or channel 23 having a stop shoulder 23. The lower portion of the armatures l9 are also reduced in diameter so as to define, together with their respective heads 20, lower annular channels 2 axially spaced from the channels 23 and having a stop shoulder 24'. The ejector windings or coils l8 are wound upon non-magnetic metallic sleeves 25 in which the ejector pins 2| are slidably mounted. The ejectors I! are all mounted on the ejector carriage M, as shown best in Fig. 15, wherein it will be seen that the windings [8 are disposed between the fiat undersurface of the ejector carriage l4 and mounting brackets 26 carried by and projecting inwardly from the vertical front wall 2? of the ejector carriage I i. By further reference to Fig. 15, it will be seen that the upper and lower ends of the sleeves 25 respectively project through the fiat upper wall of the ejector carriage i4 and bracket 28 to thereby lock the ejectors in position. By further reference to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, it will be seen that the front wall 2? of the ejector carriage Hi is formed at its bottom to provide an inturned shelf-like fiange 28, which underlies and is engaged by the armature heads 20 of the ejector ll when the same are at rest in their retracted inoperative positions, and in which positions the armatures 19 are largely be low the planes of the bottoms of their respective solenoid coils l8, but are, nevertheless, in the magnetic fields of said coils. Also, it will be noted, particularly by reference to Figs. l3, l4 and 15, that the upper ends of the ejector pins 2! are substantially flush with the upper surface of the ejector carriage M when the armatures i9 are in their said normal retracted positions.

The ejectors if each cooperate with a different magazine 6 and are so orientated on the carriage that the ejector pin 2! of a different ejector it will be located just to the rear of the vertical plane of the rear wall 5 of a ferent magazine e in a retracted position of the ejector carriage id, as shown by full lines in Fig. 4. With further reference to this Fig. 4, it will be seen that the said rear'wall 5 of each magazine l is provided at its lower end portion with a downwardly opening ejector pin-receiving notch 29 for passage of a cooperating ejector pin 2| when the same is in projected position during advance movements of the ejector carriage M. The driving mechanism for the reciprocatory ejector carriage it comprises an electric motor M, a crank-acting disc 33, a pitman arm 3|, a crank arm 32, a rock shaft 33, and a pair of oscillatory drive arms 31. The motor M is of the conventional type carrying a speed-reducing transmission mechanism, not shown, but which may be assumed to be contained within a transmission case rigid with the case of the motor M, and the crank-acting disc 30 is mounted fast on a slow-speed shaft 36 J'ournalled in the transmission case 35 of the motor M and driven at reduced speed from said motor M. The entire drive mechanism just described iscarried by a mounting plate or bracket 3'! anchored to the common rear wall 5 of the several magazines ii, the motor M being mounted on said plate 3? by screws or the like 33 and the rock shaft 33 being journalled in bearing brackets 39 which are, in turn, mounted fast on said plate or bracket 31. The crank arm ceiving apertures do therefor in brackets 4| an choreol to the rear portion of the reciprocatory ejector carriage it. For each cycle of operation of this drive mechanism, the oscillating arms t t and ejector carriage Hi, together with the several ejectors ii thereof, will move from their normal retracted positions, shown by full lines in Fig. i, to their advanced positions, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, and back to their respective normal positions represented by full lines in said figure, this complete cycle of operation requiring one complete revolution or 360 movement of the crank-acting disc 3%.

The motor driven crank-acting disc 36 is formed on its inner surface to provide a cam t2, which operates a motor-holding switch it comprising switch arm es and cooperating fixed contact st (see schematic diagram Fig. 22), mounted in a switch housing 4t, mounted on the bracket plate 31 through the medium of a bracket i! (see particularly, Fig. 4). ihe switch arm 44 rigidly carries a finger 49 for engagement with a swinging cam follower arm 49. The switch it is a normally open type, being yieldingly biased toward an open position by a spring or the like 59.

From the description thus far, it will be clear that advancing and retracting movements of the ejector carriage as are in a path generally parallel to the direction of discharge of cigarette packages X from the several magazines i, and that the ejector pins 2! of the ejector ii are respectively projectable into and retractable from a path each through the adjacent end portion of a cooperating magazine. It will also be obvious from the above description that whenever an ejector pin 21 is projected or extended and maintained in such position during an advance movement of the ejector carriage, the bottom package of cigarettes X in a cooperating magazine i. will be advanced therewith and discharged from the magazine through the discharge package 9 in front of that magazine into the common chute 3 where it will come to rest against a shoulder 5i (see Fig. 4) from which position it may be readily removed by the operator through opening 2. Of course, such extending movements of the ejector pins 25 will be responsive to energization of the coils l8 of their respective ,ejeetors it.

As earlier indicated, an important objective of the instant invention is the provision of novel mechanical means for automatically looking a selected ejector pin 2! in its extended operative position during advance movements of the elector carriage it while simultaneouslylocking'all other than a selected one of the ejector pins 2! in their retracted inoperative positions. This multiple-function locking mechanism, preferably and as shown, comprises a damper plate 52 mounted for vertical swinging movements on rigidly carried oppositely projecting trunnions 53 that work in horizontally elongated slots to in spaced mounting brackets 55, which depend from the top portion of carriage it (see Figs. 4 and 13 to 15, inclusive), one of said mounting brackets 55 and one of said cooperating trunnions 53 being shown in Fig. 13, and the other of said mounting brackets Stand trunnions 53 being shown in Figs. 14 and 15. By reference particularly to Figs. 13 and 15, it will be seen that the damper trunnions 53 are downturned at their outer ends beyond the brackets 55 to provide stop arms 56, and are 6 yieldingly biased toward the front ends of slots 54 by 0011 tension springs 51 each anchored to a trunnion 53 at one end and to the front wall 27 of the carriage it at its'other end. The normal inoperative position of the damper 52 is shown by full lines, particularly in Figs. 4 and 13 to 15, inclusive, and the upper operative position of said damper is shown particularly by dotted lines in Fig. 15. By further reference to the drawings, and particularly to the figures mentioned above, it will be seen that when the damper plate 52 is in its normal lower position, its free front edge portion is orientated slightly above the upper surfaces of the armature heads 26 and slightly rearwardly of the lower channels it of the armatures Hi. It is, however, important to note, that the upper channels 23 of the several retracted ejector pin-equipped armatures I!) fall within the arc of a circle concentric with the axes of forwardly positioned trunnions 52 and extending upwardly from the free edge of the damper plate 52. With this structure and arrangement, the immediate result of energization of the winding is of any one of the ejectors i? will be as follows: The ejector pin-equipped armature 2! of the energized solenoid winding 5 8 will be projected from its lower retracted position to its upper extreme position, shown particularly by dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 15. The head 26 of the projected armature I9 will engage the free end portion of damper plate 52 and be moved upwardly therewith to its operative upper position, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 15. During the upward movement of the free end portion of the damper plate 52 under the motivating energy of the armature head 20 of a selected ejector, the said free edge portion of the damper 52 will come into camming engagement with the adjacent portions of the several other armatures it in a zone intermediate the channels 23 and 2 thereof. After initial engagement of the free edge of damper 52 with the said intermediate portions of the several inoperative armatures it and during the balance of the upward movement thereof, the damper plate =52 will partake of a slight rearward movement against the yielding action of biasing springs 57, such rearward movement of the damper being permitted by rearward movement of the trunnions 53 in their respective slots 5%; When the armature 69 of the selected ejector ii and the damper 52 reach their extreme upper positions, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 15, the free edge of said damper will then be aligned with the lower channel 2d of the single projected armature it and with the upper channels 23 of the armatures I9 of the several other ejectors ii, and will move forwardly into the several said aligned channels under the yielding action of biasing springs 57. The damper will now be locked in its upper position by engagement in the upper channels 23 of the stop shoulders 23 of the several retracted armatures l9 and will, in turn, positively lock the single extended armature E9 in its upper position due to the interlocking engagement of the free edge of the damper 52 in the lower channel 32 and against the stop shoulder 2d of the projected plunger. The damper plate 52 and the ejector pin-equipped armatures it of the several ejectors I! will'rernain locked in their last positions during the immediately succeeding forwardly advancing ejecting stroke of the ejector carriage, and, of course, a package of cigarettes X will be ejected by the projected ejector pin 2% from the bottom of its cooperatively associated magazine 4 during such forward stroke of the carriage M,

However, as the carriage i l approaches. the ex:- treme-limit of its forward. ejecting movement, the stop arms 56 of the trunnions 53 of damper 52 will engage stop projections 58, each laterally in.- wardly projecting from an opposite side plate it (see particularly Figs. 1, 3 and 4-) which will thereupon stop forward movement. of the damper plate 52 with the carriage it, sothat the slight remaining forward movement of the carriage it will be independent of the damper 52 and: will result in retraction of the free edge of thedamper plate 52 from the several engaged armature channels 23 and 2 3. Of course, the above-described slight forward movement of the carriage ls. independently of the damper plate 52 will result in a relative rearward movement of'the damper trunnions 53- in their respective slots 5e and will be against the yielding action of the biasing springs 57. Upon being thus released from the channels 23 and 2 3, the damper 52 will immediately return to its lower inoperative position under the action of gravity, as will also the projected ejector pin 2i of the selected ejector ll. By reference particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 13 to 15, inclusive, it will be seen that the free edge portion of the damper plate 52 rests upon a pair of laterally spaced cars 59 carried by and projecting angularly from the inturned bottom flange 28 of carriage l4.

Carried by the pivotally swinging damper plate 52 is a normally open mercury switch so isclcsed only when the damper is in. anoperative position. As will hereinafter be seen, the primary function of this damper switch 63- is toinitiate a supply circuit for the motor M, and a second and equally important function of this normally open switch 6?] is to complete a circuit, setting in motion elements which immediately render all circuits of the selector mechanism, yet to be described, incapable of being closed, or opposite any thereof which may at the moment he closed;

For selectively controlling operation of the several ejectors ii, there is provided on the front of the magazine a series of manually operated. outton-type selector switches iii of which there is one for each ejector ll. Aswill' be seen by reference to the drawings, the switch ti for eachejector ll is situated directly opposite its respective cooperative ejector ll. Each of the several switches 6| comprises a movable spring contact 62, cooperating spaced fixed contacts 63 and 65, and a pushbutton 65. The contacts of the several switches 53 and E4 of each of the several switches 6% are mounted on switchboard 53 of insulating material and which is anchored adjacent its ends to opposite side plates ll of the machine. The movable spring contacts 62 of each of the several switches are normally closed with their cooperating fixed contacts 63 and are yieldingly self-biased in this direction, but are selectively movable intoengagement with their respective cooperating fixed contacts 64 through the medium of their respective cooperating pushbuttons 65. By reference to the drawings, it will be seen that the movable contacts 82 of the several switches 6! are connected in series when the several switches are in their normal inoperative positions, shown in said figures, and this by virtue of the fact that. the fixed contacts 83 of each of the several switches, except the extreme right-hand switch, is formed on an extended stationary part of the movable switch contact 62 of an adjacent switch. As shown, the contact 63 of the extreme righthand switch series only is a stop and has no function insofar as. the operation of. the machine is concerned.

The coin-operated control mechanism of the machine illustrated involves a primary coin conveyor in thenature of a coin channel 61, the receiving upper end of which is readily accessiblefrom the front of the magazine in the usual fashion, which is downwardly directed, and has its lower end portion 68 orientated above and arranged to feed into a pivoted coin-receiving hopper 69 providing a transfer station. The hopper 69 is pivoted on a horizontal axis for swinging movements generally forwardly and rearwardly of the. machine through means of trunnions It, one making bearingin coin mechanism mounting plate H. rigidly carried. by an outside hopper magazine sidewall 6,. and the. other making bearing in the plate 12 mounted in spaced relation to the plate H through the medium of interposed coin chutes or conveyors l3 and Hi.

When the hopper 69 is in its normal position shown in Figs. 2 and 10, for example, its open bottom isv disposed directly above and is effectively closed by a horizontally-disposed bridge element or platform [5 connecting the upper ends of chutes 13 and. M. The chute 73 extends down wardly and forwardly from the platform 15 and delivers to a coin-return pocket or station 73 in the front wall of the machine. The chute M extends downwardly and rearwardly from the platform 15- and discharges into a suitable coin receiver or depository 14' contained internally of the machine. It will now be clear that when the swingable pivoted hopper 69 is swung forwardly from its normal position shown in the drawings, that it will discharge. into the return chute i3, and that when said hopper 69 is swung or tipped rearwardly, that it will discharge into the chute M leading to the coin receiver 14'. The hopper $551 is, of course, gravity biased toward its normal intermediate position shown in the drawings, but itis desirable to increase such bias and to stabilize the action of the hopper 69, and it is for such purpose that I provide gravity actuated stabilizer bar 16 mounted on the plate 72 for limited vertical movements by means of slot and pinconnections 11 and having an inturned upper end 18 overlying and resting upon the upper edge of hopper 69. The stabilizer 16 not only facilitates the return of the hopper but brings the same to a stop quickly and prevents accidental swinging thereof.

Whenever the carriage l4 advances forwardly from its normal retracted position, shown. by full. lines in Figs. 2 and 4, to its advanced position,

shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, with a selected one of the ejector plungers 2i projected to its dotted line position of Fig. 4, and assuming that there is at least one package of cigarettes X in the magazine cooperatively associated with the projected plunger 2!, the said projected plunger will engage the rear of and will cause forward movement of an ejection of the engaged package of cigarettes X from the cooperating magazine through the discharge passage 9', from where it will fall by gravity into the. chute 3, all as previously described. During forward movements of the package of cigarettes X being ejected, it will engage the downwardly extending free portion of a horizontally pivoted rigid flap l9 and cause the same to swing nearly in a clockwise direction With respect to Fig. 4. The flap '9- extends in front of all of the magazines ti and covers the upper portions of the discharge openings 9 of the several magazines being pivoted adjacent its opposite ends on trunnions 80 journalled in opposite side plates ll of the machine. It will be noted that the axis of the trunnions 80 is located in a horizontal plane near the tops of the magazine discharge openings 9 and slightly above the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the bottom packages of cigarettes X. As will be seen, particularly by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, one of the flap trunnions 80 is integrally formed outwardly of the plate ll of which it is journalled with a rock arm 8!, which will, when the flap l9 partakes of the aforementioned clockwise pivotal movement of approximately 90,

partake of corresponding clockwise movement,

bringing the same into engagement with the front upper edge portion of the hopper B9 and cause the same to tip in a counterclockwise direction with respect to Fig. 2. This counterclockwise oscillatory movement of hopper 69 will move the open bottom of the hopper out of registration with the shelf or platform I and into discharge position above chute 14 so that any coin or coins in the said hopper 69 will then be discharged into chute it and lodged in the coin receiver of the machine. At this point it is important to note that the swingable flap 19 is subject to the yielding action of gravity to be returned to its normal position, shown by full lines in Fig. 4, wherein the rock arm 8| thereof comes to rest against a suitable stop pin 82. Obviously then, the flap it will automatically return to its normal starting position of Fig. 4 as soon as the engaged package of cigarettes is moved therepast under ejecting movements of the latter.

During return movements of the carriage from its advanced dotted line position of Fig, 4, the flap it will remain undisturbed in its normal position to which it has been returned. The hopper 89 will always be oscillated or rocked in a clockwise direction sufiiciently to bring its open bottom out of registration with the platform iii and into registration with the upper end of coin return chute it, by a mechanism presently to be described, so that any coin or coins placed in said hopper 69 and which remain there by reason of non-delivery of merchandise bargained for will be automatically returned to the operator. The mechanism for performing this last described oscillatory coin return movement of'the hopper 6d comprises a short shaft or spindle t3 horizontally journalled in one of the magazine side plates it (see particularly Figs. 32 and 33) and carrying a rock arm 84 on its outer end, and rigidly carrying a depending rock arm 35 on its inner end, and which is sufiiciently heavy to bias the parts 33, 3t 85 toward their normal positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By reference particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that in a normal position of the parts 83, lid and 85, the rock arm ii i rests on the rear upper edge of the hopper 69 and that the rock arm 85 depends substantially vertically from the shaft or spindle t3 and depends into the path of travel of an upstanding lug 88 projecting from the upper surface of the carriage 14. Under forward. or advancing movements of the carriage it, the carriage lug S5 imparts a clockwise rotation to rock arm 85 and parts rigid therewith, and moves beyond said rock arm 85, all without affecting the hopper 69, by reason of the fact that the rock arm 34 is merely lifted off of and returned to the upper edge of hopper tit. However, on the return movement of the'carriage i l, the carriage lug tit again contacts the rock arm 35 and this time causes a counterclockwise oscillatory movement to be imparted to the parts 83,

84 and 85. Under such counterclockwise movement, with respect to Fig. 2, of the rock arms 84, it will bear downward upon the rear edge of hopper 59 and impart a pivotal oscillatory movement to the hopper in a clockwise direction sufficiently to bring its open bottom out of registration with platform 15 and into registration with the upper end portion of coin-return chute iii, the hopper ts being automatically returned to its normal position upon passage of lug 85 through the action of gravity.

For the purpose of insuring return of coins to the operator in case certain circuits of the machine are dead, such as by reason of fai1ure to connect the machine to a suitable source of potential, or in case an operator drops into the chute 6'! an additional coin or coins during an operating cycle of the machine, I provide the following described mechanism: This mechanism comprises a pivoted valve-acting member Bl (Figs. 2 and 10) which depends from a, pivot 88 and is located externally of one side of the coin chute channel 6?. This valve-acting member 87 carries at its lower edge portion a laterally projecting coin intercepting flange 89, which works through a suitable opening 9% in th ad jacent side of coin channel 61. The valve-acting member 8? is subject to the yielding biasing action of coil tension spring 9! to move in a clockwise direction with respect to Fig.1 to a normal position wherein the intercepting flange 89 thereof projects into and effectively closes off coin channel bl, and in which position the said flange 89 will intercept any coin or coins dropped thereonto and will direct the same into a branch coin channel 92, which discharges into the lower end portion of coin-return chute 13. By reference particularly to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the coin-intercepting flange 89 is forwardly inclined in the direction of branch channel 92. Cooperating with the valve-acting member 81 is an electromagnet 91-3 comprising a corepiece fi l and winding 95. The valve-acting member 81 is magnetically responsive and, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 10, is so associated with the core 94 of electromagnet 93 so that it will be moved to an inoperative position under the influence of magnet 93 when the winding 95 thereof is energized, and when in operative position the intercepting flange 39 is moved out of the coin channel (ill to permit free passage of coins, and this against the yielding action of the spring 9 l.

Pivoted adjacent the lower end of the coin 7 channel it at 95 is a switch-actuating gate element 9'! having laterally ofiset free end portion 93 extending laterally through the coin channel. El and working in segmental slots 99 in the side walls thereof (see particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 10). This gate-acting arm 91 operates a totalizer control switch Hi0 (see Fig. 22), which is normally biased to its open position by a spring lei (see Fig. 22). The gate-acting arm 9'? engagesthe movable arm H12 of the switch led throughthe medium of an upstanding insulating lug Hi3 on the switch arm 182. When the switch Nil is in its normal open position, the free end 88 of gateacting element 9? will project across the coin channel 61, as shown best in Fig. 2, where it will intercept each coin passing through the lower portion of the coin channel 6?. Each coin engaging the free end 98 of gate element 9? will move the element 9i-93 on its way through to the hopper t9 and will thereby momentarily close the totalizer control switch Hit. After passage 11 of the coin, the gate-acting element tt-tc will be returned to its normal coin-intercepting position shown in Fig, 2.

The totalizer referred to, and which is largely of conventional character, comprisesa toothed ratchet wheel let (Fig. mounted fast on a shaft i E55 journalled in a totalizer mounting plate 8% and a bearing bracket it? carried by the mountin plate 185. The mounting plate Ice is mounted on the motor mounting plate or bracket 33 The entire totalizer mechanism exclusive of the switch 560 is shown as enclosed within a removable shelf or casing I98. Journalled on one projected end portion of the shaft Hi5 (see Fig.

7,) is an oppositely extending pair of arms indicated respectively by we and H9. By reference particularly to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the journalled arms Hi5 and us are connected for common oscillatory movements by interlocking rigid part Hi. These oscillatory arms Hi9 and Ho are yieldingly biased toward their normal positions shown in 'Fig. 5 by a coil tension spring H2 extending from arm i ii! to a stud 1 l3 mounted on plate use. 'Pivotedto the free end or" arm lit at H4 is a pawl M5 for cooperation with ratchet wheel M4. The pawl H5 is yieldingly biased toward engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel iii i by a coil tension spring H5, but the said pawl H5 is normally held out of engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 5 by the stud H3 (see Fig. 5). The shaft iil which is mounted for rotation with the ratchet wheel we is yieldingly biased to rotate in a clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 5 by a torsion spring ill (see Fig. 9) and clockwise movement with respect to Fig. 5 of the ratchet wheel l te and shaft N35 is limited by engagement of cooperating stop pins H3 and Hi), the former be ing carried by mounting plate H33 and the latter being carried by ratchet wheel Hi l. Step by step actuation of the totalizer ratchet wheel led and shaft 85 in a counterclockwise direction is accomplished by plunger lit of a solenoid I21, the winding of which is indicated by 22.

The magnetically responsive plunger 12% of the solenoid it! works loosely through the winding 122 and is provided at its opposite ends with heads I23. In Fig. 5, the solenoid plunger 120 is shown in its retracted normal position assumed when the coil 522 is de-energized and to which position it is always returned by gravity. By further reference to "Fig. '5, it will be seen that the upper head I23 of the plunger 1'28 normally engages or substantially engages the free end of arm H 9. Downward retracting movements of the plunger E are limited by a stop EN. The solenoid winding I22 is mounted in a bracket i255 from plate I86. Vertically slid ably mounted in the upper and lower flanges I26 of bracket 125 is a reciprocatory brake rod l2? having an offset end portion I28 slidably guided in a slot 4-29 in plate I66 for movements from a normal retracted position shown in Fig. 5 to an extended operative position wherein it becomes engaged between two adjacent teeth of ratchet its to positively stop the ratchet wheel W4 after a predetermined movement. The rod 12? is normally maintained in its lower inoperative position of Fig. 5 through the action of gravity acting upon the same and a relatively heavy head I30 adjacent its lower end (see Fig. 5) and which head lies in the path of travel of the lower head 123 of solenoid plunger [26. As will hereinafter be seen, the winding 1220f solenoid i2! is energized through a circuit under control of coin-closed switch its so that plunger of solenoid l-2l will be extended and retracted once for each one of apredetermined number of coins passing through the coin channel ill. Of course, this will result in a counterclockwise step of movement being imparted to the totalizer ratchet wheel IQ-ll for eacch of the required number of coins passing through the channel 8?. To prevent uncall d for reverse or return movements of the ratchet wheel its under the action of its biasing spring Hi, there is provided a pawl iii pivoted at I32 to the plate tile and biased toward engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel i8= by a coil spring 33 extending from plate to an extending operating arm lid of pawl iii. For the purpose of automatically releasing the pawl '31 to permit return movements of ratchet wheel ltd to normal starting position of Fig. there provided a solenoid winding #35 and plunger i326 mounted for reciprocation in the winding 535. Plunger its is normally gravity biased to its normal retracted position, shown in Fig. 5, wherein it is at rest against a stop iSl. By reference to Fig. 5, i will be seen that the upper end of plunger i35 is disposed immediately under the free end. of pawl arm 53% so that extend ng movements thereof responsive to .energization of solenoid I35 will release the pawl iili from engagement with the teeth of ratchet led. Upwardly projecting movements of the plunger we are limited by engagement thereof with stop pin 138. The funetion of the .totaliacr mechanism described is the operation of a switch iiii which, in turn, controls initiation of the circuits, not yet described. This totalizer mechanism operated switch 23:"; is mounted on the totalizer mounting plate lea, through the medium of a U-shaped bracket lid and comprises a fixed contact it: (his and a cooperating switch arm it? which is yieldingiy biased toward open position by a spring N33. The switch arm M2 is provided at its free end an upstanding lug its for engagement with a rock arm let that is intermediately pivoted at [B6 in the U-shaped bracket lit. One free end portion of the rock arm Hi5 cooperates .vit-h the peripheral portion oi a cam Ml fast on the totalizer ratchet shaft W5. When the totalizer ratchet wheel M3 3 is in its normal position, shown in Fig. 5, the cam is? is positioned as in Fig. 8, and in this position of parts, the switch UH is open, as shown in Fig. 22. However, when the ratchet wheel 59 partakes of a degree of counterclockwise rotation. with respect to Figs. 5 and 8, the rock arm 1 35 will be rocked sunlciently in a clockwise direction to close the switch Nil. For the purpose of the present example, it is assumed that the machine is set to deliver a package of cigarettes X for the sum of twenty cents rep-resented by two dimes successively placed in the coin channel 5?. As heretofore pointed out, each of these two coins, dimes in the present instance, will produce a single step of movement of the ratchet wheel lei, shaft its and cam iii in a counterclockwise direction with respect to Figs. 5 and 8, making a total of two such steps of movement. Under these conditions, the cam is so angularly set on shaft I95 that the switch i355 will be closed as a result of these two steps of movement of the ratchet wheel HIE, shaft ltd and cam Hil thereby placing the machine in condition for operation responsive to manipulation of a selected one of the selector switches 5|.

Pivotally mounted for rocking movements on upon for the purpose. 7 be noted that the mercury switch see is mountplunger Edi. coin mechanism, as best shown in Fig. 2. When I54 projecting through the other end of the tube ififi. The dual function of this switch 549 is important and will be made clear in connection with the subsequent description of the operation of the machine. It will be noted, however, that in its normal position shown in Figs. 2 and 22, the globule of mercury ltii closes contacts l5? and ltd, whereas in the opposite extreme position of switch I 29, all contacts are effectively open. However, it will be noted that the intermediate portion of elongated contact its is in closely spaced parallel relation to an elongated portion of contact @523 so that the mercury I5I will close contacts 53 and sat for an extended interval during its passage from right to left hand ends of tube with respect to Figs. 2, 11 and 22, 1e object here being to make a mo mentary Contact of sufiicient duration to positively operate solenoid 535, it having been found that a short flash contact could not be depended At this point it should ed fast on a bracket 555 which, in turn, is pivoted at M8.

For rocking the switch from its normal posi tion shown in Figs. 2 and 22 to its other extreme position shown in Fig. 11, there is provided a solenoid Hit equipped with a gravity retracted Solenoid are is mounted on the is ole-energised, the plunger E5? The pivoted the solenoid E55 thereof rests upon a stop pin i5 8.

bracket ltd of the switch its norm-ally rests upon the upper end of the solenoid E55 and overlies the upper end of the then retracted plunger ififl. With this arran ement, when the solenoid the is energized, the plunger 3? moves upwardly and rocks the switch its from its position of Figs. 3 22 to its position of Fig. 11.

This causes the mercury IZI to move out of cloaing engagement with contacts E55 and M2 to the other end or" the tube, during the course of which travel, the mercury momentarily makes contact course, returns it? to its normal starting position of Fig. 3, whic in turn, results in opening of switch 539.

To provide for the return to the operator through coin chute it of a coin or coins, which,

by reason of improper selection of the coin or coins, or in case the operator changes his mind with regard to the purchase before he makes an actual selection by pressing a switch button 55, I provide manualiywperated coin return mechanism immediately to be described. This manual coin-return mechanism comprises a slidably mounted push button lei having an integrally formed bearing flange I693 that is pivoted at lfii to one arm of a bell crank I62. Another arm of the bell crank it? is pivoted at Its to the coin mechanism mounting plate ll (see Fig. 2). The free end of another arm of the bell cank 262 is pivoted at IE4 to the upper end of a push rod 55, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and by full lines in Fig. 10. The lower end of this push rod it? is equipped with a laterally projecting pin ifiii that works through a slot I W in the plate H (see particularly Fig. 2) and overlies the rear upper portion of the hopper 58. The bell crank it: and push rod its are biased toward their upper inoperative positions, shown in Figs. 2 and 10, by a pair of coil tension springs I68 (see Figs. 2 and 10). With this arrangement, whenever the push button E59 is inwardly pressed from the position shown in Fig. 2, the push rod I55 will be moved downwardly to bring the pin use at the lower end thereof into engagement with the hopper t9 and sufiiciently beyond this point to cause the hopper to tip to a position whenever it will discharge into chute '63.

Of course, each time the coins are returned to the operator through manual control by manipulation of push button 15% it is imperative that the totalizer mechanism be automatically reset to its starting point, and this is automatically accomplished as follows: In this respect it will be noted that the bearing flange I69 of push button I59 is integrally formed with a laterally projecting and inwardly extending push arm I69 to the upper end of which one of the springs IE8 is anchored. The head III] of this push arm I69 normally rests upon an upper end portion of part of the bracket ill supporting solenoid I56 and in closely spaced relation to the pivoted mounting bracket I 55 of mercury switch I49. Hence, whenever the coin-return push button I59 is operated, the head I76 of push arm IE9 is automatically moved into engagement with bracket I55 of switch I 49, and will cause the same to rock from its position of Figs. 2 and 22 to the position of Fig. 11, except as follows: In case the mercury switch I 89 is already tilted to its position of Fig. 11, when the coin-return plunger I59 is inwardly pressed, the above described mechanical actuation of switch ms cannot take place, and in such event the delivery of a package of cigarettes will already have been initiated, and it is therefore very important that the manual return of the operator's coin or coins be made impossible. In the present illustration, this is simply accomplished by so locating the plunger I 57 of solenoid I56 so that its path of travel will intersect the path of travel of the head Ilil of push arm Ifig at a point in the travel of the head I18 reached before the pin Hit of push rod I65 has moved into tipping engagement with the hopper 69.

One of the tricks sometimes employed on prior art machines of this type to cheat the machine is to drop into the coin channel the proper coins to properly actuate the totalizer, and to thereafter completely de-energize the machine by breaking its connection to the power source externally thereof. When the machine is electrically dead, the unscrupulous operator will manipulate the manual coin return and get repossession of coin or coins, after which he will re-energize the machine which will then deliver the goods selected. To prevent this kind of trickery in the mechanism illustrated, I provide an intermediately pivoted rock arm I72, one end of which is connected by a coil tension spring lit to the upper end of push rod I65, and the other end of which is connected to one end of said rock arm I72. The

, other end of the rock arm I12 is connected by a E59 is manually operated while the'pawl I3] is in engagement with the totalizer ratchet wheel 10%, the said pawl I3I will be released from engagement with the teeth of ratchet. IM to permit recycling or return of the ratchet wheel I86 and parts movable therewith to the normal starting position of Fig. 5.

To facilitate the description of the operation, it will be seen by reference to the schematic diagram of Fig. 22 that the machine is provided with power terminals H5 and I16 that are adapted to be connected to a suitable source of potential, such as a domestic power line or the like I'll, by leads ilfi. Also, it will be seen by reference to this figure 22 that the terminal H5 is connected in parallel to one end or each of the several solenoid windings E8 by a power lead H9 and branch leads I86. The other endof each of the solenoid windings is is connected by a lead IB-I to afixed contact G l of a different but cooperating switch 6 l. The cooperating normally closed contacts 62 and '83 cfthe several switches El are serially connected in a lead 82 extending from terminal H5 through and having serially interposed therein contacts IdZ and I of coin-closed totalizer switch its. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 22, the lead 32 normally terminates in a dead end at the contact 62 of extreme righthand switch of said figure.

The electrical hook-up of the various electrical components of the machine will be described below in connection with the operation.

'Operation of Figs. 1 to 16, inclusive, 22 and 24 When the terminals H5 and I15 are connected to a source of potential, the winding 95 of solenoid 53 will automatically be energized through a circuit comprising a lead 583 to one end of solenoid winding 93, .a lead Iii l having interposed therein now-closed contacts Hi2 and IE of switch M9 and returning to terminal I75 through a portion of lead 582. As a result of the closing of the circuit through and energization of winding 95 of solenoid es, the coin intercepting flange of valve-acting member 9 will be retracted out of the coin channel 67 and the machine will be in condition for operation, responsive to subsequent insertion by the operator of the required coin or coins, into the coin-receiving channel 6?.

An operator wishing to make a purchase from the machine will now place in the coin channel the required khid and number of coins which, for the purpose of the present example, will be assumed to be two United States dimes. Assuming that the required two dimes have been successively piaced in the coin channel 51 while the terminals R5 are connected to a power source as indicated, they will fall straight through the coin channel and lodge in the hopper 69, but in so doing, each coin will have acted on gate element at-cs to close switch I twice. As previously indicated, each closing oi coin-operated switch its will momentarily establish a circuit through solenoid l 2! comprising a portion of lead 553 from terminal H5, a short lead i852 to one end of solenoid winding I22, a lead I86 from the other end of winding I22 to fixed contact I92 of coin-operated switch I80, switch arm I02 of switch 5%, a lead 37, part of lead I84 through now-closed contacts E52 and I55; of switch M9 to lead I82, and to terminal I15 through part of lead 32. This sets up two successive electrical impulses in solenoid coil winding I22, which results in two successive corresponding counterclockwise steps of movement being imparted to totalizer ratchet wheel IM and cam I 51 through plunger I29, arms I09 and H0 and pawl H5. These two steps of movement of cam Ml result in closing of contacts It! and I 42 of switch I35 by the action thereon of cam Ml acting through arm M5 .(see Fig. 8). This closing of camoperated switch ass completes lead 82 to the movable spring contact 62 of the extreme left hand switch 6! of Fig. 22, said lead now being completed to and through the several cooperating contacts 62 and 63 of the several switches BI. For the first time, the machine is now in condition for delivery operation responsive to manipulation of a selected one of the selector switches SI.

As previously indicated, and for the purpose of the present example, it is assumed that each of the magazines 4 contain a difierent brand of cigarettes and that each of the push button operated switches t! represents a difierent one of said magazines. Now let us assume that the operator who has already dropped his coins into the coin receiving channel 67, and having mentally made a selection of the brand of cigarettes desired, presses a push button 65 of a switch GI representing the brand of cigarettes selected. This manual manipulation of a selected one of the selector switches 6! will immediately move the spring contact 62 of the selected switch out of engagement with its normally engaged fixed contact 63 and into closing engagement with its cooperating fixed contact 6d, thereby breaking lead I82 at the selected switch and establishing a'circuit as follows: Lead I82 from terminal Il'fi through now-closed contacts M2 and l ll of switch I39 to and through now-closed contacts 62 and 6 1 of the selector switch tl, a lead IBI to the solenoid winding I3 of the ejector ll cooperating with the selector switch 6!, through said winding I8 and a connected lead I80, to lead [79 and from thence to terminal Il5 through said lead I19. The solenoid winding I8 of the selected ejector being now engaged, and this to the exclusion of the windings I8 of all of the other ejectors I7, will result in instantaneous upward projection to operative position, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 15 of the armature IQ and ejector pin 2! of the selected ejector II. It will be understood that the upwardly projected ejector pin 2| will be positioned directly behind the lowermost package of cigarettes X in the. magazine containing the selected brand of cigarettes, and is in position to eject the said brand of cigarettes upon subsequent advance movement of the carriage E i. The first and immediate result of the upward projection of the armature i9 and ejector pin 21 of a selected ejector I I will be to raise V the damper 52 (see particularly Fig. 15) from its lower inoperative position, shown by full lines in Fig. 15, to its operative upper position, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 15, and in which latter position the free front edge portion or" the damper 5.2 is interlocked in the aligned lower channel 24 of the selected ejector armature I9 and the upper channels 23 of the remaining or non-selected ejector armatures I9. As previously indicated, the damper will be locked in its upper operative position, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 15, because of its engagement with stop shoulder 23 in the aligned channels 23 of the non-selected ejector armatures I9, and during such time will maintain the selected armature IS in its operative projected position.

Upon raising to its operative dotted line position of Fig. 15, the normally open mercury switch so will be rocked to closed position. This clos- 17 ing of damper-carried mercury switch 60 simultaneously closes two circuits, to wit:

(A) A motor energizing circuit comprising a lead I88 through now-closed switch 69 and motor M to lead I83 and through part thereof to terminal I15; and

(B) Part of lead I88 from terminal I 16 through I switch 59 to a lead I89, and through said lead and interposed solenoid winding I56 to lead I83 T sult of the said tipping of switch I49 from its position of Figs. 2 and 22 to its position of Fig. 11 is the opening of contacts I52 and I54 of switch I 49 and the opening of the then-closed circuit through winding 65 of solenoid 93, and the further breaking of the circuit of solenoid I22 which is, incidentally, already broken by normally-open switch I 90. Assuming that the machine is functioning normally, the coin-intercepting flange of valve-acting member 81 will now be returned to its coin-intercepting position in coin channel 51 under the yielding action of spring 9| (see Fig. 10), so that any further coins which may be inserted into the coin channel 61 during the cycle of operation now in process will be returned through branch coin channel 92 and coinchute 13. The opening of that portion of the circuit of solenoid I22 in which the contacts I52 and I54 of switch I49 are located is primarily as a safety precaution against positive sticking of valve-acting member 81 in its retracted non-intercepting position with respect to the coin channel 61, and in which event the closing of switch I08 by insertion of coins into the coin channel 61 after opening of switch contacts I52 and I54 of switch I49 will fail to close the circuit through solenoid I22 to operate the totalizer mechanism.

The second result of tipping of switch I49 from its position of Figs. 2 and 22 to its position of Fig. 11 is to momentarily close the circuit through the totalizer resetting solenoid I35 by simultaneous passage of the mercury over the parallel portions of contacts I53 and I54. This momentarily closed circuit through solenoid I35 comprises lead I83 from terminal I15, part of lead I65, a lead I 96 to and through solenoid I35 to contact I 53 of switch I49, momentarily closed contacts I53 and erating plunger I36 which, in turn, releases the pawl I3I from the totalizer ratchet wheel I04 and permits return of the latter to its normal starting position shown in Fig. 5, and wherein stop pins H8 and H9 are in engagement. This return of the totalizer ratchet to its starting position is ac-- companied by a corresponding return. movement of cam I41 to its starting position of Fig. 8, which,

in its turn, results in opening of switch I39. This opening of switch I39 is, for all practical pur poses, instantaneous with the manual closing of a selector switch 6| and produces a break in lead I82 making it impossible to thereafter establish a circuit through any one of the ejector solenoids .1I8 during this cycle: of operation. In other 18 words, the selector mechanism is now completely dead.

During the forward advance movement of the carriage I 4 under the action of motor M and transmission connections therefrom, the motordriven cam 42 will close switch 43, thereby establishing a holding circuit for the motor M comprising a portion of lead I62 from terminal I16 to a lead I9I, said lead Iii! through switch 43, a portion of lead I33 through motor M, and a portion of lead i815 to terminal I15. This holding circuit for motor M is in parallel with the now complete, previously described circuit through motor M and will take over upon breaking of the initially established circuit through motor M. When the carriage approaches the extreme of its advanced delivery movement, stop arms 56 on opposite trunnions 53 of the damper 52 will contact the stationary stop projections 56 which will result in a relative rearward movement of the stop arms 58, trunnions 53 and damper 52 with respect to the carriage I4, such movement being permitted by travel of trunnions 53 in slots 54 against the action of biasing springs 51. This relative rearward movement of damper 52 results in releasing the same from its interlocked position with upper stop shoulder 23' of the several non-selected armatures I9 and the lower shoulder 24' of the single selected and projected armature I9. Upon thus being released, the damper 52 returns by gravity to its lower full-line position of Fig. 15, thereby returning switch 68 to its normal open position of Fig. 14 and permitting return of the projected ejector plunger 2| and its cooperating armature I 9 to be returned under the action of gravity to its lower inoperative position of Figs. 14 and 15. It will be understood that at this time the delivery of a selected package of cigarettes will have been completed. This opening of switch 65 breaks the initially established and before-described circuit through the motor M, which latter remains in operation due to the establishment of the holding circuit described. Another result of opening of damper carried mercury switch 69 is the opening of the circuit through solenoid I 56 which results in gravity retraction of its plunger or armature I51 and return of switch I 43 to its normal starting position of Figs. 2 and 22. The momentary closing of contacts I53 and I54 of switch I49 produced by return of switch I49 to its starting position momentarily energizes solenoid I35 producing a single projection of plunger I36 and a momentary release of totalizer pawl I3I from ratchet I64, but this action is of no consequence since the totalizer has already been reset. However, the closing of contacts I52 and I54 of switch I49 upon return to its starting position of Figs. 2 and 22 does produce the following important results, to wit:

(A) The circuit through the solenoid 93 is again energized, which, in turn, produces a retraction of coin-intercepting flange 89 of valveacting member 81 from the coin channel 61; and v (B) The switch IE8 is again rendered operative to close the circuit through solenoid winding I22 upon insertion of a coin in the coin-receiving channel 61.

The motor-holding circuit described, still being closed, the motor continues to operate to return the carriage I4 to its retracted starting position,

and when this is accomplished, the cam 42 is so angularly disposed as to permit opening of switch 43 thereby breaking the holding circuit for the motor, thereby completing one cycle of operation aeeeasz and placing the machine in condition for the be- 7 ginningof anew cycle.

7 As indicated in the description of the mechanism' earlier herein, the delivery of a package of" cigarettes X from any one of the magazines 4 imparts to the flap 19 and its trunnions 8 approximately 90- degrees ofmovement in aclockwise direction with respect to Figs. 2- and 4=, which brings the rock arm 8! (see Fig. 2-) into engagementwith the front edge portion of hopper 89 andtips or rocks the hopper 69 in a counterclockwise direction with respect to Fig. 2 sufiiciently to move the open bottom thereof out of registration with the platform 15 and into registration with the coin chute 14 leading to the coin receptacle within the machine. Hence, if the machine has successfully delivered the selected merchandis'e, the coin or coins inserted into the coin channel 6'1 and lodged in the hopper 69 will always be retained; However, and as previously indicated; herein, if the machine does not deliver the selected merchandise upon advance movement of the carriage M to its delivery position by reason of an exhausted supply in the particular magazine normally containing the selected merchandisc, the above-described rearward t-ipping of the hopper 6-9 will not take place and the coin or coins within the hopper 69 will be retained therein durm the initial rearward or return movement of the; carriage 1'4: During the return movement of the carriage, the upstanding carriage lug 86 cohtaets; rocks, and moves past the depending inher rock; arm 85, thereby causing a counterclockwise rocking movement to be imparted to the outer rockarm 85, which latter, being in engagement with the rear edge of hopper 69-, imparts a forward or clockwise oscillatory tipping movemerit to hopper 6i! bringing the open bottom thereof out of registration with the platform 15 and; into registration with coin-return chute 1-3. Hence, if delivery has been unsuccessful, the com or coins deposited in hopper 6.9 will be retained' therein until the hopper partakes of the last-tipping movement on the return stroke of the carriage, and wil discharge its coin or coins into the return chute l3, which delivers said coins convenient reach of the operator. Hence, in this machine, no manual manipulation is red-uired to obtain return of the operators coins,

should the machine at, by re son of a hausted; Supply, to deliverth'e goods.

Description, modification of. Fig. 23,

In Fig. 23, I show a modified arrang ment wherein, switches Bla. are substituted tor the switches 6| of figures previously described and hown best in Figs. 12 and 22. These switches 5111., while differing physically from the switches 6| do, nevertheless, accomplish identical functions and are, therefore, considered as the mechanical equivalents of the switches 'Bl. Each of theswitches 6 l aco'mprises the usual elongated tube or envelope I92, globule of mercury. L93, a closely associated pair of contacts I94. and 1 95 in oneend of the tube, and a closely associatedpair of, contacts, 196 and IE7- in the, other end portion of the tube 192. In this arrangement, the contacts 1.95 and I91 of each tubeareconnected and made common by a lead I98, which, in reality, forms part "of the power lead I82. Mercury switches 6 [a are pivotally mounted on theswitchboard 66 at we and are operated by buttonequipped push rods 2B0; Switches 611: are yield- 'ln'glybiased to their normal positions, shown in Fig; 23, by coil compression springs 201'.

20 Description, modification of Figs; 17 to 20,

V inclusive Inthesefigures, I show amodified arrangement whereby the merchandise capacity of the machine is doubled Without increasing the physical dimensions oi the, machine and without appreciab1y complicat ng; th mechanism f r n particularly to Figs, 1 8 and 20; it will be seen that I provide a frontrow; of laterally spaced; parallel magazines, 4a which is the equivalent of; the; row o maga in 4 Q re ouslyr b fi ur and, in addition thereto, a rear row of magazines rb ientia lr ike; he; r of ma az n s a, and, located directly; rearwardly of the latter, here e ng n maga in b d r c b c ofeach m gazine a Ea h ma in a d s: rea W rdly, a i n d 1 :eat v ma a e 4b; a e p vided; with; common unbroken bottom-forming la ge cl wh ch, ss e ion re substa tiallm iden al. t he f anges f. th prev ous flash s. 3 ll; be no d; hat he r nt portions Qt hese, bottom-formin flan s 8a forming the bottoms. ot the magazines 411 are in a slightly higher plane than most portions. of flanges 80.

forming the. bottoms of magazines 4b, and are connected byinclined: portions 2%. The front of magazine lais provided with a discharge passage 203, which is the equivalent of the discharge passage 9"." of; previous figures. Additionally, however; each magazine 4ais provided in the common; rear wall- 5a of the several front magazine's 4a with a receiving passage 284 in alignment with the dis harge, passage 2'03; in the f om he eot Eachmaea ine 5b f irear. IQW of: m g zi es prov d d. in. the. c m n. front a of, the several. ma az nes. b with a. d charge. assage, 2.9.6,. and. n ts rear with, a, eei i passag 2&1, the, pa sage 35 a 2,8

bein al gned th on v anot e nd th pa s es 2113, and 2.11mi. the. coopera ing. forw rd ra iace t magaz ne; Fo he purp eresent; exampl ts-assumedthet the iz .1: m sazmes 4a d; i will! aee h fil ed; was san merc andise u i s. such. a ci are e packaees X For the, purpose of the present example, it will be assum d. tha ach, rward r nd,- rear ly spaced pa r of magazin s w ll conta l ke-bran .01 i arett s i fer ng r m e r nds t e orward y nd r wa dly s aced pair t in s, a.v and 4b; nh s nst nc themaeazin s 4c and 4b: arev mounted. between. laterally,- spaced parallel side. plates 1 la; which are broadly equivalents, to, the side plates, ll. of previously=descr bed fi u s butwh h haventesra lvo me o nwar y e tending portions. 258., which. se

as legs and connect to. a mounting base 2.6.8.;

Mounted for horizontal forward and rearward sliding movements below the bottoms of the several; magazines 41a and 4b is a carriage Ma, which isbro'a-dlythe equivalent of the carriage M' in previously described figures; This carriage is provided with wheels or rollers 20% at its opposi-te ends, which IUHOVBI the bottom flanges 210 of inwardly opening guide channels 2H:

'Ijhe carriage I la is forwardly and rearwardiy reeiprqcated in the manner of the carriage t4 of previousfigures by mechanism, comprising a motor M" driving 'a crankg-acting disc 212 through speed-reducing mechanism, not shown, but. contained within a transmission case 213, a lowspeed'shaft 214, on which the crank-acting disc 2121s directly mountedea pitmanarm 215;, "a. short rock arm 216', and along rock arm 2! 1'. The rock 

